According to Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, the ongoing construction of the Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna State has contributed to significant changes in the area, including an alleged reduction in kidnapping and banditry activities.
Umahi made the claim while speaking on Channels TV, where he highlighted the security and economic benefits he said were associated with major road construction projects undertaken by the Federal Government.
The minister said the 123-kilometre Birnin Gwari road had previously been difficult to access because of security concerns linked to banditry in the area. According to him, the commencement of construction has changed the situation and improved activity along the route.
He said, “There is this Birnin Gwari road in Kaduna State 123 kilometres that we just started. Before, nobody went there because of bandits. Somebody even told me jokingly that even the bandits said that nobody will place a poster there except APC. They are very happy with the construction of that road. And kidnapping activities in the area have reduced,” he said.
Umahi further argued that the condition of Nigeria’s roads had been a major challenge before the current administration came into office. He challenged critics to identify any 20-kilometre stretch of road that was free from serious deterioration before President Bola Tinubu’s administration began.
The minister also drew attention to the Abuja-Kano highway, describing it as another major infrastructure project with security implications. According to Umahi, the route had previously been associated with frequent kidnapping incidents, but he claimed that no kidnapping had been recorded along the corridor in the two years since construction commenced on the 375-kilometre project.
He added that the Abuja-Kano road project goes beyond conventional road construction, noting that solar-powered lighting and CCTV cameras are being incorporated along the entire route.
Umahi maintained that such infrastructure projects should not be assessed solely from the perspective of transportation and road connectivity. Instead, he argued that improved roads, lighting and surveillance infrastructure could also contribute to strengthening security and facilitating economic activity in communities affected by insecurity.
His remarks underline the government’s argument that road infrastructure can play a wider role in improving access, supporting commerce and enhancing security in areas that have previously faced significant challenges from criminal activities.
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